The opportunities and challenges of data-driven computing are a major component of research in the 21st century. The Center for Data-Driven Discovery (CD3), in strong partnership with JPL, helps the faculty across the entire Institute in developing novel projects in the arena of data-intensive, computationally enabled science and technology.

The central focus of CD3 is the methodologies for handling and analysis of large and complex data sets, in facilitating the data-to-discovery process. It is about applications of data-driven computing in various scientific domains, such as biology, physics, astronomy, geophysics, etc. CD3 also serves as a catalyst for new collaborations and projects between different scientific disciplines, and between the campus and JPL. We are especially interested in the sharing and transfer of methodologies, where the solutions from one field can be reapplied in another one. At this time, we are not involved in the traditional high performance computing or hardware.
The scientific staff of the Center has an expertise that spans various aspects of computational science, and works on a collaborative basis with research groups on the campus and at JPL, in helping develop novel, exploratory projects, and in the execution of larger, funded projects that involve data-intensive computing. The Center also helps in the development of educational materials for training students in the research skills that are increasingly necessary for data-rich science in the 21st century.
We are a part of a joint initiative with the Center for Data Science and Technology at JPL.

NEWS//

Discovering a Black Hole Merger

From the journal Nature, cd3 researchers & collaborators report on an unusual repeating light signal that is most likely the result of two supermassive black holes in the final phases of a merge.

news/binary-blackholes.2015.01.07.html

RESEARCH//

IMMERSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE SCIENTIFIC DATA VISUALIZATION

Effective data visualization is a key part of the discovery process in the era of big data. It is the bridge between the quantitative content of the data and human intuition, and thus an essential component of the scientific path from data into knowledge and understanding.

research/immersive_and_collaborative_data_visualization.html

RESEARCH//

Computational Plant Biology

Quantitative studies in plant developmental biology require monitoring and measuring the changes in cells and tissues as growth gives rise to intricate patterns. The success of these studies has been amplified by the combined strengths of two complementary techniques, namely live imaging and computational image analysis.

research/computational_plant_biology.html

RESEARCH//

pervasive computing for disaster response

The objective of this project (a collaboration between Caltech CS and CD3, and the University of California at Irvine) was to develop key components of community-based pervasive systems which will allow citizens to respond to disasters.

research/pervasive_computing_for_disaster_response.html

RESEARCH//

Visualization Atelier

Visualization is a true confluence of the science being researched, the supporting sciences needed to create the resulting visual representations, design, and art. As such, we are as much research scientists as we are artisans. CD3 has the expertise and experience to serve the Caltech/JPL community.

Announcement of creation of Joint Initiative on Data Science and Technology

Caltech's Center for Data-Driven Discovery and JPL's Center for Data Science and Technology (CDST), the two centers have formally joined forces, creating the Joint Initiative on Data Science and Technology.